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Can A Course On Sexuality Counseling Increase Empathy When Working With Sex- And Gender-Minoritized Individuals?, Betty Cardona, Robinder P. Bedi

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This study examined whether a sexuality counseling course could increase self-perceived empathy for working with Sex and Gender minoritized (SGM)individuals. Forty-two students enrolled in a sexuality counseling course completed empathy assessments prior to starting the course and after completing it. Statistically significant increases in empathy towards gay/lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals were found (moderate to a large effect sizes). Results indicate that, at least under some circumstances, empathy levels for SGM individuals in counselors-in-training (CITs) could be increased through coursework. Increases in practitioner empathy for SGM individuals can translate into lower uniliteral termination rates and better counseling and psychotherapy outcomes.

Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment: A Systems Approach To Understanding Sexual Issues In Individuals And Couples, Stephanie Buehler

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Sexuality is a complex construct made up of the influence of systems upon the individual and counterinfluence of the individual upon systems, which can make sexual history taking problematic. The adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s developmental ecological systems model has been employed to create a Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment. The Sexological Ecosystemic Assessment is described as a means of gathering and organizing information about an individual’s sexual development and current sexual expression across five subsystems that range from the microsystem, wherein interactions take place among and between family members and close caregivers, to the chronosystem, which is the effect of time across the …

A Path Towards Intersectionality-Informed Counseling Sexology: A Special Commentary, Bianca R. Augustine

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

It is the goal of professionals within the field of counseling sexology and sexual wellness to provide clients with clinical mental health counseling through a sex-positive and affirming framework. To do so, clinicians must pay special attention to best practices in the field, especially as it relates to historically oppressed and minoritized clients. To do so, appropriate training is required to inform care. Furthermore, clinical practice is also informed by research, making it imperative that research is conducted related to various aspects of sexual wellness and treatment. This commentary will identify and discuss sexual health and wellness priorities within the …

Gender And Race Influence Young Adults' Impressions Of People With Dementia, Angel Collie

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are becoming more common among older adults around the United States, including African Americans, who are twice as likely to be clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Though it is counter-intuitive, young adults are important when examining the future projections of ADRD because they will be the future caretakers of older adults. The current study investigated whether impressions of people with dementia are influenced by the interaction of gender and race among young adults. In Phase 1, young adults (N = 157, ages 18-25, median age = 20) completed a reverse correlation task where they …

What Is Your Why? A Qualitative Study About Motivational Differences Of Latinos/Hispanics And African American/Black In A Computerized Cognitive Training Program To Prevent Alzheimer’S Disease, Lizbeth C. Vera Murillo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recruitment of diverse populations is a major barrier in advancing clinical research (Areán & Gallagher-Thompson, 1993; Areán & Alvidrez, 2003). The need to increase racial diversity is imperative due to the substantial growth of historically marginalized racial communities in the United States (Weinstein et al., 2017). Despite researchers’ efforts to increase racial/ethnic representation in clinical trials, there is still a lack of understanding of the best practices to recruit racial/ethnic minorities in clinical trials. The current study explores the qualitative motivations of why research participants (aged 65+ years old) volunteered for an Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevention clinical trial. Racial/ethnic differences …

The Indirect Association Of Personality With Perceived Stress As Mediated By Humor In University Students During Covid-19, Jacqueline Sterghos

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Humor is known to be an effective coping strategy due to its stress-reducing capabilities (Overholser, 1992; Peterson & Seligman, 2004). However, more recent research into humor has revealed it can also lead to increased levels of stress (Fritz et al., 2017; Martin et al., 2003). Extraverts tend to have positive emotions and are better able to cope with stressful emotions (Ford et al., 2016). However, individuals higher in neuroticism are more likely to engage in maladaptive types of coping strategies and humor (Greengross et al., 2011), putting them at a higher risk for increased stress levels. The current research utilized …

Relation Between Parent Feeding And Emotional Overeating In Preschoolers As Mediated By Emotion Regulation, Lindsay Nicole Baker

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emotional overeating is defined as eating in response to negative emotions, and the shift from emotional undereating to overeating around the preschool years indicates environmental influences. Parent feeding practices such as using food to regulate emotions and behavior may impede children’s ability to regulate their emotions, leading to emotional overeating. This study analyzed the relation between parent feeding practices, child emotion regulation, and emotional overeating in 4- and 5-year-old children. For study 1, mothers of 4- and 5-year-old children completed online questionnaires through MTurk and Prolific. Questionnaires measured parent feeding practices, emotion regulation, and emotional overeating. Parent use of food …

The Effect Of Testing On New Learning Of Related And Unrelated Text Sections, Katie Ingram

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When individuals are presented with a variety of materials, including word lists, face-name pairs, text passages, and more, the presence of a test between sections can enhance future section learning, a phenomenon called the forward testing effect (FTE). In addition to the FTE, studies have suggested that a decrease in the relatedness of the subject matter units can increase learning of the material. The current study examined the interaction between the presence of a test and the relatedness of material using text sections and cued-recall questions. Participants were 119 individuals assigned to a related test, related no-test, unrelated test, or …

A New Mindset: The Effects Of A Strategic Mindset On Women Under Stereotype Threat, Jessica A. Mckay

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women completing math tasks under stereotype threat underperform and experience increased negative outcomes compared to women under no threat and men. While previous interventions for stereotype threat focus on self-affirmation or role models as a means to reduce the effects of stereotype threat, the current study examines whether using a strategic mindset to increase self-reflection mitigates the negative effects of stereotype threat on women in math. Undergraduate women (N=149) were randomly assigned to read an article about the benefits of having a strategic mindset or taking cold showers. Participants were then randomly assigned to a stereotype threat condition (women perform …

Eye Of The Tiger: Does Cultural Mismatch Affect The Evaluation Of Graduate Program Brochures?, Roshonda Bissainthe

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although first-generation college students (FGCS) are enrolling in graduate school at the same rate as continuing-generation students (CGCS), they are earning their degrees significantly slower or not at all. We add to the growing literature by examining whether the independent culture encouraged at many American universities clashes with the interdependent culture of FGCS. We hypothesized that when participants are randomly assigned to read an independently focused brochure, FGCS compared with CGCS will report a lower tendency to seek college resources, self-efficacy, and persistence. FGCS and CGCS read an independent or interdependent focused ecopsychology graduate program brochure and indicated their self-efficacy …

Illness Stigma, Social Connectedness, And Health In People Living With Chronic Illness: A Structural Equation Model, Abigail Brooke Crawford

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The complexity of chronic or unexplained conditions may lead to potential stigma for those suffering long-term symptoms as they do not follow the expected pattern of recovery following diagnosis and treatment. Experiencing such illness-related stigma has potential for leading to a belongingness identity of detachment with implications for health across physical, social, and psychological dimensions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between stigma, social connection, mental health, physical health, and social functioning in a group of 231 participants with ongoing symptoms of chronic illness through structural equation modeling. The fit indices all suggest that the model reasonably fits the …

Internal Mental Representations Of The Self And The Typical College Student In Regards To Race, Self-Esteem And Belongingness, Celina Deloris Johnson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The higher prevalence of white students on college campuses may influence how minority students see themselves within the academic setting. In essence, minority students may not feel like they belong on college campuses and this may harm their self-esteem. In particular, discrepancies between minorities' internal representations of themselves and their representations of a typical college student may drive feelings of not belonging and decrease self-esteem. The present research consisted of two phases and was designed to investigate how internal mental representations of the self and the typical college student are related to self-esteem and their sense of belonging. In Phase …

Examining Predictors Of Academic Success Among Stem And Non-Stem College Students, Sydney C. Barrett

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nationally, approximately 40% of students drop out of college, with one third of all college freshman dropping out before they enter their second year (Hanson, 2021). Previous research (van der Zanden et al., 2018) has examined predictors of student success that range from institutional variables (e.g., policies, academic supports) to student characteristics (e.g., academic preparation, emotional well-being, motivation, self-evaluation). The primary goal of the present research was to add more insight into the variables that might affect academic success by examining differences in college students’ implicit theories of intelligence, achievement goals, academic self-concept, and academic success at two different levels …

Changing Tides: Online Conspiracy Theory Use By Radical Violent Extremist Groups Over Time, William J. Eames Iii

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Radical violent extremist terrorism is a global issue that has existed for centuries and has been the cause of millions of deaths. Extremist organizations have learned to adapt and survive attempts at legal/military interdictions. One possible major element that allows for the survival of these radicalized organizations is the use of conspiracy theories within their online messages that are used to radicalize and recruit members to their cause. These conspiracy theories tend to elicit two types of messages: a quest for significance or a loss of significance. This study aims to observe how extremist organizations utilize conspiracy theories in their …

Less Meat, Less Heat: Analyzing Meat Consumption Through The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Identity, Past Behavior, And Conservatism, Madeleine Powers

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Meat reduction is a largely underutilized means of combatting climate change that warrants further investigation. The current study utilized an extended model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict intention to eat red meat. In addition to traditional TPB components of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, this study adds to the literature by including meat-eating identity, past meat-eating behavior, and conservatism as predictors of meat consumption intentions. 744 participants were recruited via Mturk and compensated $1 for completing surveys assessing the extended TPB constructs related to meat consumption. The sample was 57% men, and 81% white, …

That’S Why We Drink: Effects Of Undergraduate Stress During The Covid-19 Pandemic On Alcohol Behaviors, Skylar St Clair

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has shown that undergraduates’ alcohol use is often affected by their perceived stress, especially when there is a significant disruption to their typical college lifestyle. The primary goal of the study was to demonstrate that there is a relationship between perceived undergraduate stress and alcohol behaviors mediated by anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary goal was to determine if there were any significant moderating variables on the aforementioned mediation, specifically characteristics of personality. A self-report Qualtrics survey was conducted to assess perceived stress, anxiety, alcohol use, and personality domains along the Big Five Inventory for 244 students. …

Motivation Differences Of Males And Females In The Pact Study: An Exploratory Study, Maria E. Vander Meulen

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is not yet a reality, however, research on preventative interventions for AD has demonstrated promise. An issue this research has encountered and will continue to contend with is the recruitment of a generalizable sample. There are several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in various disciplines that do not reach their target sample or must extend their recruitment period to reach their sample size. Challenges like this will aid in the delay of finding an AD prevention method. That impedes the help it could provide future generations. The current study explores research participants’ (2,617) open-ended responses …

Physiological Responses Regarding Stress And Trauma: The Freeze Response, Emma Arie Von Holten

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fight-or-flight is a commonly known response to threatening situations, but the freeze response is another defensive mechanism that might arise in such situations. There is also evidence that exposure to trauma can impact physiological reactions when defensive mechanisms are not required, such as freezing in response to non-threatening situations. The current study aimed to replicate and expand upon a limited number of previous studies on the human freeze response by implementing measurements of postural sway, heart rate, and infrared thermography while valenced images were shown to participants. Ninety-two participants were recruited from the University of North Florida and participants were …

Triumph After Trauma: A Phenomenological Exploration Into Women Survivor’S Perceptions Of The Influence Of Trauma On Their Leadership, Natalya R. Bannister Roby

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most research around trauma is focused on negative life consequences. Although limited, there is research that explores the influence of resilience and how some survivors may experience growth after trauma (Kirschman, 2004). Furthermore, research is limited on how trauma influences the leadership style and career trajectories of women who have overcome trauma. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used as the methodological framework to explore the perspectives of women leaders who identify as survivors or overcomers of trauma. The study participants are women leaders in middle management positions to senior-level executives in educational organizations serving middle and high school students.

In-depth …

Community Approaches To Veterans And Active-Duty Service Member Suicide Prevention Through Public Health Outreach: A Commentary, Joe Bohn, Tommy Childers, Christopher Baglivo

Florida Public Health Review

We discuss insights on a West Central Florida community-based Veterans suicide prevention effort- a series of Veterans coffee socials. Noted as a public health crisis which has been well documented, the article provides an overview of the importance of public health approaches and academic public health engagement at a local level to addressing suicide prevention at community levels. An active-duty service member’s perspective is provided that points to common pain points that that extend to the Veterans community with reintegration challenges. A community-based participatory research methodology has been applied which stressed the importance of community partners (e.g., public, private and …

Counselor Self-Reported Competence For Working With Kink Clients: Clinical Experience Matters, Emily Y. Meyer Stewart, James M. Hepburn

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The experience of counselor stereotyping, bias, and misunderstanding is often very real for those who participate in adult, consensual, non-diagnosable paraphilic sexuality, commonly referred to as kink. A created Counselor Self-Reported Competency Scale, drawn from American Counseling Association competencies, and the Attitudes about Sadomasochism Scale were used to assess counselor knowledge and attitude for working with kink clients. This research suggests competence with kink clients increases as clinical experience working with kink clients increases. The ability to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude and open therapeutic environment seems linked to increased clinical experience with this sexual subculture.

Sexual Violence Survivors In The Indian Diaspora: The Impact Of Acculturation On Support-Seeking Behavior, Bagmi Das

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Survivors of sexual violence in the United States are provided many more resources than those in Asia. For survivors in the Indian diaspora, this provides a unique perspective when understanding their experience and seeking support. This mixed methods study was an effort to understand the relationship between acculturation and support seeking for these survivors, both from informal and formal supports. This survey research recruited 77 survivors of sexual violence who self-identified as women and within the Indian diaspora in the United States. The participants ranged from 18 to 43 years in age. The Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, support seeking checklist, …

The Gender Freedom Model: A Framework For Helping Transgender, Non-Binary, And Gender Questioning Clients Transition With More Ease, Rae Mcdaniel, Laurel Meng

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Transgender/non-binary experiences and identities are often represented in academic literature through narratives of distress and are often pathologized through a medical lens. This holds implications for the field of psychotherapy, as interventions aimed to support transgender/nonbinary individuals often focus solely on risk mitigation. This article presents a therapeutic framework that rests on three pillars—Play, Pleasure, and Possibility—as the focal points for reimagining work with transgender/non-binary clients. This model aims to help this population explore gender transition with more ease through building practical skills, cultivating personal and collective pride, and centering pleasure equity.

Motivations, Expectations, Ideal Outcomes, And Satisfaction In Friends With Benefits Relationships Among Rural Youth, Amber Letcher, Jasmin Carmona, Kristine Ramsay-Seaner, Meagan Scott Hoffman

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Characterized by repeated sexual contact with a known partner without the expectation of commitment, friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) are increasing among youth. Yet, less is known about the motivations for, or satisfaction in, FWBRs especially among youth from rural areas. Youth from rural communities reported on their experiences in FWBRs. Findings indicated that youths’ major motivation for FWBRs was sexual satisfaction, although gender differences emerged. Sexual motivation was associated with relationship satisfaction. The majority of youth wanted to maintain their friendship following the FWBR, and most described the experience as satisfying. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Mapping Sex Therapy Across The United States: An Exploratory Study, Frances L. Mcclain, Dylan M. Amlin

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The primary purpose of this study was to determine what someone who was interested in obtaining a provider for sex therapy would find if they simply searched for sex therapy using the Google search engine. The goal was to ascertain how someone might access providers in each state, what types of information someone seeking treatment for sexuality issues might find on provider websites, who is providing the services, what types of services are being provided, and whose services might appeal to given the content of the website. Once all of the data was compiled, the resulting data would include a …

Adaptive Memory: Richness Of Encoding As A Possible Underlying Mechanism Of The Threat Effect, Anthony Hall

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a growing body of research suggests that the human memory system has adapted to recall information that would have been vital to our ancestors’ survival. One area of importance is animacy, where animate objects are better remembered than inanimate ones. From the study of animacy a new area of interest came about; perceived threat of stimuli. It was suggested that some of the stimuli used in previous research could be perceived as more threatening than others which could be a potential confound. This research lead to a potentially new phenomenon, the threat effect, which suggests that threatening …

Emotion Regulation And Coping As Mediators Of The Association Between Perfectionism And Self-Esteem In Athletes Compared To Non-Athletes And Honors Students, Hollie Minichiello

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increased levels of perfectionism have been shown to be associated with increased levels of burnout, feelings of depression, heightened levels of anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and hindered overall performance. The current study aimed to investigate whether coping mechanisms and emotion regulation mediate the association between perfectionism and self-esteem in athletes compared to non-athletes and honors students. Four hundred ninety-three primarily white (n = 60.0 %), female (n = 83.0 %), psychology major, participants aged 18-49, completed a series of questionnaires including: the Self-Esteem Implicit Association Test (Greenwald et al., 2002), the Self-liking and Self-Competence Scale (Tafarodi & Swann Jr, …

In Sickness And In Health: Interactions Between Romantic Dyads, Power, And Health, Madisen Taylor Reasonover

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study applied the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (Cook & Kenny, 2005) to assess influence in romantic dyads regarding health attitudes and behaviors (exercise, eating), and the moderating effects of gendered power. Associations between dyad similarity scores on health attitudes, health behaviors, and gendered relationship quality was also explored. Forty-five heterosexual romantic couples who were exclusively dating (72% White/Caucasian; age M = 22.3 years; relationship length M = 28.7 months) completed several questionnaires including: the Relationship Power Inventory – Overall (Farrell et al., 2015), the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory (Fletcher et al., 2000), a modified Exercise Identity Scale (Anderson …

Divided Attention And Its Effect On Forward Testing, Nicholas H. Garcia

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The testing effect is a well-studied and robust phenomenon. The forward testing effect is a relatively new phenomenon that has been observed in robust settings with a diverse population. The testing effect (also coined the backwards testing effect) and the forward testing effect share similar benefits and are applicable in similar settings. Research on the forward testing effect has demonstrated underlying mechanisms that differ from the backwards testing effect, illuminating the differences between these two phenomena. Dividing attention during study periods has been revealed to negatively affect the backwards testing effect, significantly reducing its efficacy. The forward testing effect, operating …

Our Thoughts Matter: The Mental Health Of College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Caitlin Zarzeczny

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the mental health of undergraduate college students within the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cognitions about health threat and engagement in protective health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were (N = 276) undergraduate students attending the University of North Florida. Students completed a SONA systems survey between March 2021 and December 2021. Participants received course credit for completing the survey. Survey questions were taken from the Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Prevention Effectiveness Protocols scale (Prasetyo et al., 2020). Three types of variables were assessed: demographics, perceived threat, and planned action. Correlational …